Buenos Aires, Argentina: Axens and Raízen announce the successful start-up of a Prime-G+® FCC gasoline desulfurization unit at Raízen’s refinery in Argentina, marking the 300th Prime-G+® unit licensed worldwide in 25 years, according to a press release.
The commissioning and start-up of the unit have been completed successfully, enabling Raízen to produce cleaner gasoline in line with stringent environmental specifications. This achievement highlights both companies’ commitment to operational excellence and to reducing the environmental footprint of refining activities.
As part of this project, the unit was delivered using a modular approach, with key process modules engineered and fabricated under Axens responsibility. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 period, all modules were successfully delivered and installed, enabling a safe, smooth, and accelerated start-up. This modular execution significantly reduced onsite activities and allowed faster project delivery compared to conventional stick-built units.
Axens’ Prime-G+® technology is widely recognized as the leading solution for FCC gasoline desulfurization. Today, around 70% of low-sulfur gasoline globally is produced using Prime-G+® technology, demonstrating its strong market adoption and proven industrial performance.
The technology enables deep desulfurization of gasoline downstream of the FCC unit while ensuring optimal octane retention, a key differentiator for refiners seeking to comply with fuel specifications without compromising product value.
Beyond its superior desulfurization performance, Prime-G+® helps refiners improve energy efficiency while lowering the environmental footprint of FCC gasoline treatment on their sites.
This milestone further confirms Axens’ ability to deliver high-performance, flexible and modular refining solutions, tailored to the evolving needs of the industry. Initially dedicated to remote places or projects under severe weather constraints, modularization becomes a new standard of execution.
Quentin Debuisschert, CEO and Chairman of Axens, said, “This 300th reference illustrates the continued trust placed in our Prime-G+® technology over the last 25 years and demonstrates Axens’ ability to deliver modular, fast-track solutions under challenging conditions. Modular execution is increasingly considered in Latin America and other parts of the world to enhance project efficiency and reduce schedule risks”.
Alejandro Vago, Refinery Director at Raízen, said, “The successful start-up of our Prime-G+® unit marks an important step in our ongoing efforts to produce cleaner fuels while maintaining high product quality standards. We value our collaboration with Axens and the efficiency brought by the modular approach, which enabled a smooth and timely project execution”.
